Lamp retainer for fluorescent lamps and the like



July 29, 1947. w, BEALS 2,424,874

LAMP RETAINER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed April 2.. 1943 l3 5 INIEENTOR.

. L M 25 BY G/L SON W EALs ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1947 LAMP RETAINER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND LIKE Gillson W. Beale, Meriden, Comm, asslgnor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 2, 1943, Serial No. 481,539

. 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to lamp retainers end l6 which extends for fluorescent lamps and the like, and is more particularly directed toward devices adapted to prevent the accidental removal of a fluorescent lamp from its supporting lamp holders.

The present invention contemplates a construction for this purpose including a lamp retainer pivotally supported relative to the lamp holder and movable from a position where the lamp may be readily inserted or removed to a normal position where removal of the lamp is prevented and where it will hold the lamp against the falling out of the fixture, should the lamp accidentally become loosened in the holder.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, three embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts.

in section showing one form of lamp retaining device applied to a conventional form of lamp holder and lamp;

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken from the left of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 showing a modified form of construction; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a further modified form of construction.

In Figure 1 is illustrated one end Ill of a fluorescent lamp having pin terminals M. A conventional lamp holder is illustrated at 92, its socket being of a type used with 100 watt fluorescent lamps. This lamp holder has a passage or slot l3 which opens downwardly and inwardly toward the lamp so that the lamp terminals may be passed up through this slot or removed from it. The lamp holder also has other slots and current supply contacts forming no part of the present invention and omitted from the'drawings for clarity.

The lamp holder i2 is fastened to a downwardly extending element 14 which may be a strap, bracket, or other device formin Part of the fixture structure. This support i2 is on the side opposite the lamp l0, and in the form shown in Figure 1 it supports an L-shaped lamp retainer i5 by means of a rivet indicated at Hi. This lamp retainer normally extends down alongside the lamp holder as illustrated and has a lower in Figure 1.

close underneath the lamp holder. It is provided with an indentation indicated at l! which is adapted to enter into the bottom of the notch or slot l3.

When the lamp is in operating position in the lamp holder, the lamp retainer is in the position indicated in full lines in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and when in this position the lamp cannot be removed. Should it jar loose so that the terminals come into the vertical slot the lower. terminal will be stopped by the lamp retainer as indicated When it is desired to remove the lamp or to insert another lamp it is merely necessary to shift the lamp retainer to the side as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2.

in the form of construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the lamp holder i2 is the same. The support 20 for the lamp holder is similar to the support H, but is here provided with a hole or slot 2|! to receive the hooked upper end 22 of an L-shaped lamp retainer 23. The lower end 23 of the lamp retainer extends under the lamp holder as indicated in full lines, and it has a detent 25 which enters slot l3 for the same purpose as the detent H. The lamp retainer 23 of Figure 4 can be swung away from the lamp holder, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 4, so as to permit insertion of orremoval of the lamp. The lamp retainer 26 illustrated in Figure'6 may be pivoted as shown in either Figure 1 or Figure 4, the difi'erence here being that its lower end 21 is provided with a thumb screw 28 adapted to be threaded up into the slot E3 of the lamp holder.

Structures such as herein shown are suitable for use with fluorescent lighting equipment where there is sufiicient space beyond'the lamp holder for the swinging of the lamp retainers. One of these retainers would be used with each lamp holder.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and difi'erent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighting fixture having a horizontal tubular lamp with pin type terminals and a fixed 3 s end of the vertical portion being pivoted on the opposite side of the holder from the lamp and about an axis substantially above the terminal passages, the horizontal portion being 01 111511111- cient length to extend beyond the side of the holder adjacent the lamp, the lamp retainer being swingable from a position where it prevents downward removal of the lamp terminals to a position where it is out of the path of the lamp terminals when being removed. I

2. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe lamp retainer swings about an axis parallel with the lamp axis.

3. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp retainer swings about an axis transverse o! the lamp axis.

4. A lighting fixture such as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp retainer carries an element adapted to engage with the passage in the holder to normally keep the lamp retainer in lamp retaining position.

GILLSON W. BEALS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

